Photographer with Kremlin media ties disqualified from German photography prize after backlash
The committee has not yet made a public statement about his disqualification from the prize, but according to Valery Melnikov's Instagram post, representatives of the award referred to him as a "Kremlin-media-linked photographer," which is a term used to refer to him in the title of the Kyiv Independent's article about his work.
The Ukrainian-occupied Mariupol series of photographs, initially shortlisted for the esteemed Leica Oskar Barnack Award, has been removed from consideration due to controversy surrounding the photographer's background. Valery Melnikov, the photographer, expressed his disapproval of the decision on his Instagram account on August 10, asserting that artists are not required to justify their work.
He has been documenting the Mariupol region since 2022, focusing on the plight of civilians, a narrative that aligns with the views of Kremlin-backed media outlets where he has previously worked, including Rossiya Segodnya (Russia Today). Melnikov's association with these outlets has been a point of contention, as his work has been featured in exhibitions and publications organized by state-run Russian media.
The controversy escalated after Ukrainian media outlets, such as the Kyiv Independent, highlighted Melnikov's connection to the Kremlin-media-linked photographers, leading to the photo series being disqualified from the award. Leica confirmed the decision following a legal and compliance review, citing concerns over Melnikov's perceived ties to Russian state media as the reason for his disqualification.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
